South Africa remains Russia's leading partner in Africa — Putin

July 08, 2015, 18:59 UTC+3The Russian president thanked his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma for supporting Russia's contacts with such organizations as the African Union and the South African Development Community

Vladimir Putin and Jacob Zuma

UFA, July 8. /TASS/. South Africa is Russia's key partner on the African continent, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"The Republic of South Africa is Russia's leading and reliable strategic partner in Africa," Putin said at a meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma.

He praised bilateral cooperation in many spheres and joint work within the UN, BRICS, WTO and IAEA and thanked Zuma for supporting "Russia's contacts with such organizations as the African Union and the South African Development Community."

Zuma thanked Putin for organizing the BRICS summit in Ufa on a high level and said that BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) cooperation was an important factor of global development.